U.S. patent application number 10/643028 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-10 for portable terminal apparatus.
Invention is credited to Fukamatsu, Kanae, Ikeda, Mizuho, Kohno, Tetsuya, Sakamoto, Yoshiko, Sasaki, Kayo, Sato, Toshiaki, Tsutsui, Mototsugu.
Application Number | 20040110540 10/643028 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32021529 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040110540 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sato, Toshiaki ; et
al. |
June 10, 2004 |
Portable terminal apparatus
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a portable terminal apparatus having a novel
surface lighting portion which can appeal to user's vision
intensively and variously and can effectively make the notification
of incoming calls or the like by means of light. The portable
terminal apparatus includes a housing, a surface lighting portion
provided on the outer surface of the housing, and a panel member
detachably mounted on the housing so as to cover the surface
lighting portion. At least a part of the panel member is
transparent or semitransparent. The surface lighting portion has a
flat outer surface, and the panel member is a flat plate like
member, wherein the housing has a device for holding the flat plate
like member placed on the flat outer surface of the surface
lighting portion. The whole of the surface lighting portion is
illuminated upon receiving an incoming call, for example, and the
panel member is also illuminated according to a pattern formed
thereon.
Inventors: |
Sato, Toshiaki; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Fukamatsu, Kanae; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Sakamoto, Yoshiko; (Tokyo, JP) ; Kohno, Tetsuya;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Sasaki, Kayo; (Tokyo, JP)
; Ikeda, Mizuho; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Tsutsui,
Mototsugu; (Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
William S. Frommer, Esq.
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG LLP
745 Fifth Avenue
New York
NY
10151
US
|
Family ID: |
32021529 |
Appl. No.: |
10/643028 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/0214 20130101;
H04M 1/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/566 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/00; H04B
001/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 19, 2002 |
JP |
2002-237976 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable terminal apparatus comprising: a housing; a surface
lighting portion provided on the outer surface of said housing; and
a panel member detachably mounted on said housing so as to cover
said surface lighting portion, at least a part of said panel member
being transparent or semitransparent.
2. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
surface lighting portion has a flat outer surface; said panel
member comprises a flat plate like member; and said housing has
means for holding said flat plate like member placed on said flat
outer surface of said surface lighting portion.
3. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
apparatus has a communication function, and the whole of said
surface lighting portion is illuminated upon receiving an incoming
call.
4. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
surface lighting portion comprises a light source and a light
guiding plate for guiding light emitted from said light source and
scattering said light from one surface.
5. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 4, further
comprising means for changing a lighting pattern provided by said
surface lighting portion according to a caller upon receiving an
incoming call.
6. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
panel member comprises a plurality of panel members adapted to be
selectively mounted on said housing, each of said panel members
having information for specifying said lighting pattern; said
apparatus further comprising means for detecting said information
and means for controlling said lighting portion according to said
information detected by said detecting means.
7. A portable terminal apparatus having a communication function,
comprising: an upper housing; a lower housing; a hinge portion for
pivotably connecting said upper housing and said lower housing so
that said upper housing is foldable with respect to said lower
housing; a hinge lighting portion provided at said hinge portion
for illumination in the condition where said upper housing is
folded with respect to said lower housing; a surface lighting
portion provided on the outer surface of said upper housing; and
control means for controlling lighting patterns of said hinge
lighting portion and said surface lighting portion independently
and selectively.
8. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said
control means comprises means for variably controlling said
lighting patterns of said hinge lighting portion and said surface
lighting portion according to an event occurring in said
apparatus.
9. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
event comprises at least two of calling, speaking, and
charging.
10. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
said control means comprises means for changing the lighting
pattern of at least said surface lighting portion according to a
caller upon receiving an incoming call.
11. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
said control means comprises means for variably controlling said
lighting patterns of said hinge lighting portion and said surface
lighting portion according to a user instruction.
12. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
said hinge lighting portion has a semicylindrical light guiding
member at said hinge portion, so that light emerging from said
hinge lighting portion is visible in a direction parallel to the
outer surface of said surface lighting portion at least in the
folded condition of said upper housing.
13. A portable terminal apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
said light emerging from said hinge lighting portion invisible also
in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of said surface
lighting portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable terminal
apparatus such as a mobile phone.
[0002] In general, the notification of incoming calls in a mobile
phone is made by means of ringer tone produced by a speaker,
vibration produced by a vibrator, or light emitted from a light
emitting diode (LED). A suitable one of these methods is selected
by a user. For example, in public places such as in a train, the
notification method is switched from the ringer tone to the
vibration or light in many cases unless the mobile phone is powered
off.
[0003] Recently, the mobile phone has become widespread and it has
been used by many people regardless of age or sex. For example,
there is a case that the mobile phone is owned by a person having
relatively poor hearing. In this case, it is desirable to more
effectively make the notification of incoming calls by means of the
vibration or light in addition to or instead of the ringer tone.
Further, in the case that a person having relatively poor eyesight
also intends to use the light for the notification of incoming
calls, it is desirable to more effectively make the notification by
means of the light. Further, it is desirable for young people that
a more effective illumination form can be provided from the
viewpoints of decoration and fashion aside from the notification of
incoming calls. Conventionally, such illumination is applied to a
greatly limited portion such as the tip of a whip antenna. Further,
although the color of light for illumination can be changed, the
manner of illumination cannot be changed in various patterns.
[0004] Conventionally known is a foldable mobile phone such that a
decorative panel can be replaceably mounted on the back side (outer
side) of a liquid crystal display portion. This panel is curved so
as to adapt to the external shape of the mobile phone, and has a
locking pawl for use in replacement of the panel. Thus, the panel
has a relatively complicated shape. While various panels may be
prepared as an option by the related makers, there is a problem
that the cost of the various panels is high because of their
complicated shapes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
portable terminal apparatus having a novel surface lighting portion
which can appeal to user's vision intensively and variously.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
portable terminal apparatus having a communication function which
can effectively make the notification of incoming calls or the like
by means of light.
[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a portable terminal apparatus including a housing; a
surface lighting portion provided on the outer surface of the
housing; and a panel member detachably mounted on the housing so as
to cover the surface lighting portion, at least a part of the panel
member being transparent or semitransparent.
[0008] The surface lighting portion is illuminated over the surface
thereof. The light emerging from the surface lighting portion is
transmitted through the panel member at least of which is
transparent or semitransparent, and the transmitted light from the
panel member is visible. Accordingly, in the case that the whole of
the panel member is transparent, the emergent light from the
surface lighting portion is entirely transmitted through the panel
member, whereas in the case that the panel member has a pattern
(inclusive of a color pattern), surface light emission is obtained
from the panel member according to the pattern of the panel member.
In other words, the illuminated condition of only the surface
lighting portion can be modified by the panel member. The color of
the pattern of the panel member itself is determined only by
ambient light reflected on the panel member. However, by directing
the emergent light from the surface lighting portion to the panel
member, the transmitted light from the panel member contributes to
the color of the pattern of the panel member. Accordingly, by
switching between the on and off states of the surface lighting
portion located behind (under) the panel member, the illuminated
condition of the pattern can be varied. Further, also by changing
the color of the emergent light from the surface lighting portion,
the illuminated condition of the pattern can be varied in
combination with the color of the pattern.
[0009] Preferably, the surface lighting portion has a flat outer
surface; the panel member includes a flat plate like member; and
the housing has means for holding the flat plate like member placed
on the flat outer surface of the surface lighting portion.
Accordingly, the panel member is not required to have any special
functional portions such as a locking pawl and therefore to perform
a forming process therefore.
[0010] In the case that the apparatus has a communication function,
the whole of the surface lighting portion is illuminated upon
receiving an incoming call, so as to use the surface lighting
portion for the notification of incoming calls. Accordingly, the
visibility can be improved to thereby more effectively make the
notification of incoming calls.
[0011] Preferably, the surface lighting portion includes a light
source and a light guiding plate for guiding light emitted from the
light source and scattering the light from one surface. However,
the configuration of the surface lighting portion is not limited to
this configuration, but any other arbitrary means or members for
surface light emission maybe used.
[0012] Preferably, the portable terminal apparatus further includes
means for changing a lighting pattern provided by the surface
lighting portion according to a caller upon receiving an incoming
call. With this configuration, when receiving an incoming call from
a caller whose phone number is preliminarily recorded in a phone
directory, the lighting pattern preliminarily allocated to the
specific caller can be selected.
[0013] Preferably, the panel member includes a plurality of panel
members adapted to be selectively mounted on the housing, each of
the panel members having information for specifying the lighting
pattern; the apparatus further including means for detecting the
information and means for controlling the lighting portion
according to the information detected by the detecting means.
Accordingly, only by replacing the panel member with another one,
the lighting portion corresponding to the other panel member can be
automatically selected.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a portable terminal apparatus having a
communication function, including an upper housing; a lower
housing; a hinge portion for pivotably connecting the upper housing
and the lower housing so that the upper housing is foldable with
respect to the lower housing; a hinge lighting portion provided at
the hinge portion for illumination in the condition where the upper
housing is folded with respect to the lower housing; a surface
lighting portion provided on the outer surface of the upper
housing; and control means for controlling lighting patterns of the
hinge lighting portion and the surface lighting portion
independently and selectively. This portable terminal apparatus has
the hinge lighting portion provided at the hinge portion in
addition to the surface lighting portion, and the lighting patterns
of the hinge lighting portion and the surface lighting portion can
be controlled independently and selectively. Accordingly, these two
lighting portions can be used in organic combination.
[0015] Preferably, the control means includes means for variably
controlling the lighting patterns of the hinge lighting portion and
the surface lighting portion according to an event occurring in the
apparatus. In this case, the event may includes at least two of
calling, speaking, and charging.
[0016] Preferably, the control means comprises means for changing
the lighting patterns of at least the surface lighting portion
according to a caller upon receiving an incoming call. In this
case, the lighting pattern of the hinge lighting portion may be
combined with the lighting pattern of the surface lighting
portion.
[0017] Preferably, the control means includes means for variably
controlling the lighting patterns of the hinge lighting portion and
the surface lighting portion according to a user instruction.
[0018] Preferably, the hinge lighting portion has a semicylindrical
light guiding member at the hinge portion, so that light emerging
from the hinge lighting portion is visible in a direction parallel
to the outer surface of the surface lighting portion at least in
the folded condition of the upper housing. More preferably, the
light emerging from said hinge lighting portion is visible also in
a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the surface
lighting portion. Accordingly, the viewing angle of the hinge
lighting portion can be enlarged as compared with the related art,
thereby improving the usage value in the notification of incoming
calls by means of light.
[0019] Other objects and features of the invention will be more
fully understood from the following detailed description and
appended claims when taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a
mobile phone according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the condition
where a panel member has been removed from the mobile phone;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mobile phone shown in FIG.
2;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the
mobile phone in the condition where an upper housing is open;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configurations of
the panel member and a surface lighting portion provided under the
panel member;
[0025] FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a
mechanical structure related to a slide member mounted on the upper
housing;
[0026] FIG. 6B is an enlarged plan view showing the mechanical
structure shown in FIG. 6A as viewed from the back side of the
upper housing;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view for illustrating a user
operation in removing the panel member from the upper housing;
[0028] FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views showing a mechanism for
realizing the operation shown in FIG. 7;
[0029] FIGS. 9A and 9B are views similar to FIGS. 8A and 8B,
showing another mechanism;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a
hinge lighting portion;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the hardware
configuration of the mobile phone;
[0032] FIGS. 12A to 12B are schematic illustrations of four kinds
of lighting patterns of the surface lighting portion and the hinge
lighting portion in combination;
[0033] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the control of
the surface lighting portion and the hinge lighting portion
according to an event occurring in the mobile phone; and
[0034] FIGS. 14A to 14F are plan views showing various patterns of
the panel member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the
following description, the present invention is applied to a mobile
phone as an example of the portable terminal apparatus.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a
mobile phone 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The mobile phone 100 is a foldable mobile phone such
that an upper housing 14 and a lower housing 25 are pivotably
connected through a hinge portion 18. A detachable panel member 50
and a sub-display portion 19 are provided on the outer surface of
the upper housing 14, that is, on the backside of a main display
portion (which will be hereinafter described). The sub-display
portion 19 may be used for the display of radio wave condition,
date and time, battery level, etc. A hinge lighting portion 48 is
provided at a fixed part of the hinge portion 18, that is, at a
central nonrotational part of the hinge portion 18 as shown. The
panel member 50 is formed from a flat plate like member having at
least a transparent or semitransparent part. The panel member 50 is
mounted so as to cover a light emission surface of a surface
lighting portion (which will be hereinafter described) provided
under the panel member 50.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a condition where the panel member 50 has been
removed from the mobile phone 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan
view of the mobile phone 100 in this condition. A surface lighting
portion 44 having a flat upper surface as a light emission surface
is provided at a position when the panel member 50 has been
present. The upper surface of the surface lighting portion 44 is
lower in level than a peripheral portion of the upper housing 14,
so as to define a recess for accommodating the panel member 50.
That is, a pair of wall-like guides 43 each having a height
slightly larger than the thickness of the panel member 50 are
formed along the opposite sides (the right and left sides as viewed
in FIG. 3) of the surface lighting portion 44. These guides 43
function to position the panel member 50 in mounting it into the
above recess. A groove 41 for receiving the front end of the panel
member 50 (the upper end as viewed in FIG. 3 on the hinge portion
18 side) is formed on the upper housing 14 at a pposition
corresponding to the front end of the surface lighting portion 44
(the upper end as viewed in FIG. 3 on the hinge portion 18 side).
The groove 41 is concave on the hinge portion 18 side as viewed in
FIG. 3, and it functions as means for locking the front end of the
panel member 50. A pressure member 46 retractably projects upward
from the upper surface of the surface lighting portion 44 at the
rear end thereof (on the side opposite to the hinge portion 18).
Further, a slide member (movable locking member) 47 is provided at
a rear end portion of the upper housing 14 in the vicinity of the
pressure member 46. The slide member 47 is supported to the upper
housing 14 so as to be slidable in a given range in a direction
along the guides 43, and is normally biased toward the front end of
the upper housing 14 (toward the hinge portion 18) by an elastic
force applied to the slide member 47. Accordingly, in placing the
panel member 50 on the surface lighting portion 44 and fixing
(locking) the panel member 50 to the upper housing 14, the front
end of the panel member 50 is first fitted into the groove 41, and
the slide member 47 is next slid toward the rear end opposite to
the hinge portion 18. In this condition, the rear end portion of
the panel member 50 is depressed to push down the pressure member
46 against an elastic force applied thereto and to thereby closely
mount the panel member 50 on the surface lighting portion 44. In
this condition, the sliding force applied to the slide member 47 is
removed to return the slide member 47 to its original position by
the elastic force. As a result, the rear end portion of the panel
member 50 is locked the front end portion of the slide member 47 on
the hinge portion 18 side in an overlying manner, thereby obtaining
a locked condition of the panel member 50. Thus, the panel member
50 is prevented from falling from the upper housing 14. The
pressure member 46 functions to eliminate a play of the panel
member 50 in its locked condition. Particularly in the case that
the depth of the recess for mounting the panel member 50 is set
sufficient so as to allow a sheet like (or card like) member be
sandwiched between the surface lighting portion 44 and the panel
member 50, there is a possibility that when such a sheet like
member is not applied, the panel member 50 may play in a direction
perpendicular to its surface unless the pressure member 46 is
provided. Accordingly, the pressure member 46 can effectively
function to suppress such a play of the panel member 50. Such a
mechanism is clearly shown in FIG. 8A as will be hereinafter
described.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the
mobile phone 100 in the condition where the upper housing 14 is
open. As apparent from FIG. 4, a main display portion 16 such as a
liquid crystal display device is provided at a main portion on the
inside surface of the upper housing 14, and a speaker portion 12 is
provided on the inside surface of the upper housing 14 at the rear
end thereof (at the upper end as viewed in FIG. 4). Further, a jog
dial 20 and various operation keys 28 to be operated by a user are
provided over the inside surface of the lower housing 25, and a
microphone portion 32 is provided on the inside surface of the
lower housing 25 at the rear end thereof (at the lower end as
viewed in FIG. 4). As will be hereinafter described in detail, it
should be noted that the hinge lighting portion 48 formed at the
hinge portion 18 is visible even in the open condition of the upper
housing 14.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows the configurations of the panel member 50 and
the surface lighting portion 44 in perspective. As mentioned above,
the panel member 50 is formed from a flat plate like member
transparent or semitransparent at least a part thereof. The surface
lighting portion 44 is composed of two optical path converting
elements 51 such as prisms for converting the optical paths of
light emitted from two light sources (e.g., light emitting diodes
(LEDs) in this preferred embodiment), a substantially rectangular
light guiding plate 44a having adjacent acute corner portions to
which the optical path converting elements 51 are connected, and a
substantially rectangular reflecting plate 45 mounted on the lower
surface of the light guiding plate 44a. In the case that the light
from the light sources can be introduced directly to the light
guiding plate 44a, the optical path converting elements 51 maybe
omitted. In this preferred embodiment, each light source is
provided by a set of RGB color LEDs, wherein the light intensity of
each color can be variably controlled, thereby realizing multicolor
light emission. The light guiding plate 44a is a flat plate like
member formed of a light transmitting material and having
substantially the same shape as that of the panel member 50. The
lower surface of the light guiding plate 44a has a fine pattern for
scattering of light. The reflecting plate 45 is a white sheet like
member and functions to upward reflect the vertically downward
light scattered from the light guiding plate 44a. The surface
lighting portion usable in the present invention is not limited to
such a structure, but a color display device using EL
(Electroluminescence), for example, may be adopted.
[0040] The panel member 50 has a front edge concave on the hinge
portion 18 side. Although this structure is not essential, the
following merits can be exhibited by this structure. That is, the
front and rear sides of the panel member 50 can be distinguished
from each other; the light from the two light sources can be
efficiently introduced into the light guiding plate 44a; and the
area of the panel member 50 can be enlarged as retracting from the
region for the sub-display portion 19.
[0041] FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a
mechanical structure related to the slide member 47. The upper
housing 14 is formed at its rear end portion (lower end portion as
viewed in FIG. 6A) with two pairs of slits 62 and 63 extending
longitudinally (in the longitudinal direction of the upper housing
14). The slide member 47 is a laterally extending member having a
slightly curved outer surface. The slide member 47 is formed with
two pairs of longitudinally extending projections 68 and 69
respectively slidably inserted through the two pairs of slits 62
and 63. The projections 68 and 69 project from the inner surface of
the slide member 47. When the slide member 47 is mounted on the
upper housing 14 so that the projections 68 and 69 are respectively
inserted through the slits 62 and 63, pawl portions formed on the
outer side surfaces of the projections 68 come into lock the side
edges of the slits 62. Accordingly, the slide member 47 is
prevented from falling from the upper housing 14. In removing the
slide member 47 from the upper housing 14, the opposed projections
68 and 69 of each pair is flexibly deformed toward each other and
the pawl portions are unlocked from the slits 62. In this
condition, the projections 68 and 69 are pushed from the back side
of the upper housing 14. The upper housing 14 is further formed
with a through hole 72 for insertion of the pressure member 46. A
leaf spring 70 is provided on the back side of the upper housing
14, so as to apply a pressure to the pressure member 46. An elastic
pin (elastic member) 67 is also provided on the back side of the
upper housing 14, so as to apply a biasing force to the slide
member 47 toward the front end of the upper housing 14 (toward the
hinge portion 18). Thus, the elastic pin 67 functions as biasing
means for normally biasing the slide member 47 toward the hinge
portion 18. A through hole 65 is formed at the rear end portion
(lower end portion as viewed in FIG. 6A) of the upper housing 14 at
a position below the through hole 72, so as to assist mounting of
the elastic pin 67 to be hereinafter described.
[0042] FIG. 6B shows the back side of the rear end portion of the
upper housing 14 shown in FIG. 6A. As apparent from FIG. 6B, the
tips of the projections 68 and 69 inserted through the slits 62 and
63 are shown. A pair of lugs 61 are formed on the inner surface of
the upper housing 14 so that each lug 61 is positioned between the
slits 62 and 63 of each pair in order to guide the projections 68
and 69 in sliding the slide member 47. A projection 64 is formed
near the through hole 65, and the elastic pin 67 is fixed at its
central portion to the projection 64. The opposite ends of the
elastic pin 67 are engaged with the rear ends of the projections 69
(the lower ends as viewed in FIG. 6B). Accordingly, the projections
68 and 69 are normally biased toward the front ends of the slits 62
and 63 (the upper ends as viewed in FIG. 6B) (toward the hinge
portion 18) by the elastic force of the elastic pin 67. When a
rearward force is applied to the slide member 47 by the user's
thumb, for example, in a direction away from the hinge portion 18,
the slide member 47 is slid rearward against the elastic force of
the elastic pin 67. When this rearward force by the user's thumb is
removed from the slide member 47, the slide member 47 is frontward
returned to its original position by the elastic force of the
elastic pin 67. The leaf spring 70 is fixed at one end thereof to
the upper housing 14, and one surface of the leaf spring 70 at its
other free end normally applies an elastic force to the pressure
member 46 to project the pressure member 46 from the through hole
72.
[0043] The user operation in removing the panel member 50 from the
upper housing 14 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to
9B. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mobile phone 100 in
removing the panel member 50. FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views
showing a mechanism for realizing the operation of removing the
panel member 50, wherein FIG. 8A shows a locked condition of the
panel member 50 and FIG. 8B shows a condition where the user
operation is being performed in removing the panel member 50. In
FIGS. 8A and 8B, the ratio between the thickness and length of each
of the panel member 50 and the surface lighting portion 44 is
different from an actual ratio, but the thickness shown is larger
than an actual thickness for convenience. The mobile phone 100 in
its folded condition is held by one of the user's hands, and a
contact pressure (or frictional force) is applied to the rear end
portion of the panel member 50 by the thumb 89, for example, of the
other user's hand. In this condition, the slide member 47 is slid
toward the rear end of the upper housing 14 in a direction away
from the hinge portion 18 by the thumb 89, so that the concave
front end of the panel member 50 is disengaged from the groove 41.
At the same time, the front end of the slide member 47 on the hinge
portion 18 side is retracted, so that a depression force of the
slide member 47 applied through the panel member 50 to the pressure
member 46 is reduced. As a result, the tip of the pressure member
46 depressed by the panel member 50 projects vertically upward from
the through hole 72 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B), thereby lifting the
concave front end of the panel member 50 from the surface lighting
portion 44 as shown in FIG. 8B. In this condition, the panel member
50 can be easily removed.
[0044] The panel member 50 has a simple flat shape and it is fitted
with the recess on the surface lighting portion 44. Accordingly,
such lifting of the concave front end of the panel member 50 is
very convenient in removing the panel member 50.
[0045] FIGS. 9A and 9B show another mechanism for lifting the front
end of the panel member 50 in the case that the pressure member 46
is not provided. When the slide member 47 is retracted from the
locked condition of the panel member 50 shown in FIG. 9A, the front
end of the panel member 50 (the left end as viewed in FIG. 9A) is
unlocked from the groove 41, and the rear end of the panel member
50 (the right end as viewed in FIG. 9A) is pushed down by a
depression force applied by the user's thumb to enter a recess 99
formed at the rear end of the surface lighting portion 44 (the
right end as viewed in FIG. 9B), so that the front end of the panel
member 50 is lifted.
[0046] The mechanism itself for attaching and detaching the panel
member 50 as described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 9B does not
require a communication function, but can be applied to any
arbitrary apparatus in which a plate like panel member is
detachably mounted.
[0047] FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the hinge lighting
portion 48 in perspective. The hinge lighting portion 48 is a
semicylindrical light guiding member, and light emitted from a
light source such as an LED is introduced from a part of this light
guiding member. A plurality of light sources for the hinge lighting
portion 48 may be provided. The number of light sources is not
especially limited. With this structure of the hinge lighting
portion 48, the light emerging from the hinge lighting portion 48
spreads circumferentially. Accordingly, the light emerging from the
hinge lighting portion 48 is visible in a direction parallel to the
outer surface of the surface lighting portion 44 in the closed
condition of the upper housing 14, that is, in a direction depicted
by an arrow P in FIG. 1. Further, the emergent light is also
visible in a direction perpendicular to the direction P. The
visibility of the emergent light from the hinge lighting portion 48
in the direction P is advantageous because when the hinge lighting
portion 48 is used for the notification of incoming calls in such a
condition that the mobile phone 100 is carried in a breast pocket,
for example, with the hinge portion 18 directed upward, the
emergent light from the hinge lighting portion 48 is visible from
the upper opening of the breast pocket.
[0048] Such a function similar to that of the hinge lighting
portion 48 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No.
2002-64599. This preferred embodiment is characterized by the use
of the hinge lighting portion 48 and the surface lighting portion
44 in combination as will be hereinafter described in detail.
[0049] FIG. 11 shows the hardware configuration of the mobile phone
100. The mobile phone 100 comprises an antenna 200, duplexer 201,
receiver (RX) 202, transmitter (TX) 203, DSP (Digital Signal
Processor) 204, speaker 205, microphone 206, and ear receiver 207.
These components are related to a phone function. The mobile phone
100 further includes a controller 208, main display portion 209
(corresponding to the component 16 shown in FIG. 4), sub-display
portion 210 (corresponding to the component 19 shown in FIG. 2),
operating portion 211 (corresponding to the components 20 and 28
shown in FIG. 4), ROM 213, RAM 214, the surface lighting portion
44, and the hinge lighting portion 48. These components are related
to the control of the mobile phone 100. The surface lighting
portion 44 and the hinge lighting portion 48 include LEDs as
mentioned above. The ROM 213 preliminarily stores a control program
for realizing an operation to be hereinafter described. The ROM 213
may include a programmable memory such as a flash ROM.
[0050] FIG. 12 shows four kinds of lighting patterns A, B, C, and D
of the surface lighting portion 44 and the hinge lighting portion
48 in combination. The lighting pattern A is such that the surface
lighting portion 44 is controlled to emit yellow light during a
given time period T1 (e.g., several seconds) whose depth is
gradually increased from zero to a maximum depth and next gradually
decreased from the maximum depth to zero, whereas the hinge
lighting portion 48 is controlled to emit yellow light during the
time period T1 whose depth is kept constant. According to this
pattern, the emergent light from the surface lighting portion 44 is
slowly changed in depth from light yellow through deep yellow to
light yellow during a relatively long time as deep breathing. The
lighting pattern B is such that the surface lighting portion 44 is
controlled to emit cyan light during a given time period T2 whose
depth is gradually increased from zero to a maximum depth, next
during a given time period T3 whose depth is kept at the maximum
depth, and next during the time period T2 whose depth is gradually
decreased from the maximum depth to zero, whereas the hinge
lighting portion 48 is controlled to emit cyan light to blue light
of nine different depths during the overall time period of
T2+T3+T2. This change from cyan light to blue light is repeated.
According to this pattern, the emergent light from the surface
lighting portion 44 is gradually changed from light cyan to deep
cyan with repetition like waving. The lighting pattern C is such
that both the surface lighting portion 44 and the hinge lighting
portion 48 are controlled to emit rainbow-colored light during a
given time period T4 wherein the component colors are sequentially
changed. According to this pattern, the emergent light is changed
from red through orange, yellow, green, and blue to violet, thereby
obtaining an image like a rainbow. The lighting pattern D is such
that both the surface lighting portion 44 and the hinge lighting
portion 48 are controlled to emit green light during a given time
period T5 whose depth is gradually increased from a minimum depth
to a maximum depth, next during the time period T5 whose depth is
kept at the maximum depth, next during the time period T5 whose
depth is gradually decreased from the maximum depth to the minimum
depth, and next during a given time period T6 whose depth is kept
zero. According to this pattern, the emergent light is changed with
a green hue, thereby obtaining an image like nature, forest,
etc.
[0051] The term of "lighting pattern" used in this specification
means any arbitrary combination of the emergent light colors from
the surface lighting portion and the hinge lighting portion and of
the on and off states of the surface lighting portion and the hinge
lighting portion.
[0052] The lighting patterns shown in FIG. 12 are merely
illustrative, and the color, time period, sequence, etc. are not
limited to those mentioned above. For example, other conceivable
lighting patterns may include a lighting pattern such that various
colors are quickly changed at random like graffiti, a lighting
pattern such that complementary colors such as red and green are
alternately changed to provide a striking image, and a lighting
pattern such that such changing of colors is suddenly stopped to
come into an off state.
[0053] Further, it is possible to provide different lighting
impressions with the same lighting pattern according to the
configuration (color and transmissivity) of the panel member. For
example, by combining the pattern formed on the panel member and
the lighting pattern of the surface lighting portion, a new pattern
is made visible.
[0054] While the surface lighting portion and the hinge lighting
portion are simultaneously operated in the example shown in FIG.
12, one of the surface lighting portion and the hinge lighting
portion may be operated.
[0055] Further, the lighting pattern as the notification of
incoming calls may be changed by preliminarily making the panel
member itself have information on the lighting pattern and only
changing the panel member. In this case, the panel member may have
encoded shape changes such as projections, recesses, and slits or
encoded electrical contacts in combination. By using such
combination of electrical contacts and identifying each of
individual panel members (or the kind thereof) by means of a
detector provided in the body of the mobile phone, the lighting
pattern of at least the surface lighting portion can be specified
according to the panel member (or the kind thereof) mounted on the
body of the mobile phone.
[0056] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the control of
the surface lighting portion and the hinge lighting portion
according to an event occurring in the mobile phone. While the
event in this example comprises three events, i.e., calling,
speaking, and charging, the event does not necessarily include all
of these events.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 13, when an incoming call is detected
(S11, Yes), the surface lighting portion and the hinge lighting
portion are illuminated with a first lighting pattern (S12). In the
case of speaking (S13, Yes), the surface lighting portion and the
hinge lighting portion are illuminated with a second lighting
pattern (S14). In the case of charging (S15, Yes), the surface
lighting portion and the hinge lighting portion are illuminated
with a third lighting pattern (S16). The illumination during
charging is intended not only to indicate that the battery is being
charged, but also to provide enjoyment as interior illumination. In
the case that the upper housing 14 is open during speaking, the
illumination of the hinge lighting portion may be suppressed as
another example of the control. The detection of whether or not the
upper housing 14 is open may be performed by using any mechanical
or optical switch known in the art (not shown).
[0058] The first, second, and third lighting patterns shown in FIG.
13 may be preliminarily set as defaults or may be variably set by
the user. Further, each of the first to third lighting patterns may
include a case where one of the surface lighting portion and the
hinge lighting portion is not illuminated. Further, in the
preferred embodiment using the surface lighting portion and the
hinge lighting portion in combination, the panel member is not an
essential element.
[0059] As another example of the event, the lighting pattern maybe
changed according to a caller upon receiving an incoming call in
the case that the caller can be identified by a caller ID service
or the like. In this case, individual lighting patterns
respectively corresponding to individual callers whose data have
been recorded in a phone directory may also be recorded. Further,
the lighting pattern for phone conversation and the lighting
pattern for electronic mail may be distinguished from each other
upon receiving an incoming call.
[0060] FIGS. 14A to 14F show various patterns of the panel member
50. As will be hereinafter described, arbitrary color patterns
having various patterns and colors may be prepared for the panel
member 50, and the user may select a desired one of these color
patterns.
[0061] A part of any pattern of the panel member 50 may be made
opaque, semitransparent, or transparent. For example, in a zebra
pattern shown in FIG. 14D, the white-striped region maybe made
transparent. Further, in a polka-dot pattern shown in FIG. 14A, the
background region may be made transparent. In each case, the
emergent light from the surface lighting portion located under the
panel member can be transmitted through the transparent region. The
black-striped region in the zebra pattern or the dot region in the
polka-dot pattern may be backed by silk-screen printing to thereby
completely block the emergent light from the surface lighting
portion.
[0062] Further, a part of the panel member may be cut out and any
material may be fitted with the cutout. For example, a rhinestone
may be attached to the cutout, or a denim with an eyelet may be
attached to the cutout, thereby allowing the transmission of the
emergent light. In the case of the denim with the eyelet, the
emergent light is transmitted through the hole of the eyelet, while
in the case of the rhinestone, the emergent light is modified by
the rhinestone to obtain a sparking effect.
[0063] Further, the panel member may be formed from a
semitransparent mirror. In this case, by varying the transmissivity
of the semitransparent mirror between the central region and the
peripheral region thereof (e.g., with a gradation), the transmitted
condition of the emergent light through the semitransparent mirror
can be varied within the panel member even when the panel member is
uniformly lit by the emergent light.
[0064] In the case that the color pattern is not backed, the
emergent light can be half transmitted through the color pattern.
In this case, the color pattern provided by silk-screen printing
functions as a filter to absorb or transmit the light from the LED.
For example, in the case of a polka-dot pattern, the dots may be
colored differently to thereby provide such enjoyment that ambient
light is reflected on the outer surfaces of the colored dots and
the light from the LED is transmitted through the colored dots.
More specifically, in the case that the dots are colored in red and
orange and that the LED emits cyan light (complementary to red),
the red dots are not illuminated in appearance and only the orange
dots are illuminated. Accordingly, in the case that the dots are
arranged so as to image dancing, it is possible to form a lighting
pattern such that a dancing image is made visible according to a
manner of light emission from the LED. As another example, a stripe
pattern of blue, green, and red lines arranged in this order may be
formed on the panel member, and the LED may be operated so as to
sequentially emit yellow, magenta, and cyan lights respectively
corresponding to the complementary colors to blue, green, and red.
In this case, the line having the color complementary to the color
of the light emitted from the LED is not illuminated in appearance
and the other lines are illuminated, thus imaging a flow of
illuminated lines of different colors.
[0065] The panel member 50 is not necessarily required to have a
pattern, but may be a colorless (or colored) transparent or
semitransparent solid member having no pattern. The user may put an
arbitrary sheet like member between the panel member 50 and the
surface lighting portion 44. In this case, at least a part of the
sheet like member is preferably transparent or semitransparent for
the purpose of use of the surface lighting portion 44. For example,
a photograph, picture, characters, etc. may be printed in various
colors on a transparent sheet like member such as an OHP sheet, and
the transparent sheet like member thus printed may be cut into a
desired size. The size of the transparent sheet like member may be
smaller than that of the panel member 50.
[0066] Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, various modifications may be made.
[0067] According to an aspect of the portable terminal apparatus of
the present invention, the whole of the panel member forming a part
of the housing can be illuminated, so that the area of the lighting
portion can be enlarged to thereby improve the visibility.
Accordingly, in the case of using the surface lighting portion for
the notification of incoming calls, the user can easily recognize
the incoming calls even when the portable terminal apparatus is
placed somewhat apart from the user. Further, by changing the
lighting pattern according to a caller upon receiving an incoming
call, the caller can be identified more easily as compared with an
existing lamp for merely notifying incoming calls.
[0068] In particular, by using a panel member having a pattern, the
illuminated condition solely by the surface lighting portion can be
modified by the panel member. That is, by changing panel members
having different patterns, the effect of illumination can be
changed with the same lighting pattern provided by the surface
lighting portion. Conversely, the same pattern of the panel member
can be made differently visible by changing the on/off state or
color of emergent light from the surface lighting portion.
Accordingly, by the combination of the lighting patterns of the
surface lighting portion and the patterns of the panel member, it
is possible to obtain various illuminated conditions that cannot be
obtained solely by either the surface lighting portion or the panel
member. Further, the user can easily customize the portable
terminal apparatus by replacing the panel member with another
one.
[0069] Thus, the combination of the surface lighting portion and
the panel member provides means capable of appealing to user's
vision intensively and variously. Accordingly, the surface lighting
portion can be used not only for the notification of incoming
calls, but also for enjoyment as illumination.
[0070] The panel member replaceable is a simple flat plate like
member that is not required to have any special functional portions
such as a locking pawl and therefore to perform a forming process
therefore, so that the panel member can be manufactured at a low
cost.
[0071] According to another aspect of the portable terminal
apparatus of the present invention, the visibility of illumination
can be further improved by using the surface lighting portion and
the hinge lighting portion in combination. Further, various
lighting patterns can be obtained by the combination of the surface
lighting portion and the hinge lighting portion, so that a suitable
lighting pattern can be selected according to an event or user's
taste. Accordingly, the notification of incoming calls, for
example, can be effectively made by means of light.
[0072] While the invention has been described with reference to
specific embodiments, the description is illustrative and is not to
be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various
modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *